Transcriptional activation of heme oxygenase-1 and its functional significance in acetaminophen-induced hepatitis and hepatocellular injury in the rat

Bauer, Inge; Vollmar, Brigitte; Jaeschke, Hartmut; Rensing, Hauke; Kraemer, Thomas; Larsen, Reinhard; Bauer, Michael

« Previous Next »Journal of Hepatology
Volume 33, Issue 3 , Pages 395-406, September 2000

Transcriptional activation of heme oxygenase-1 and its functional significance in acetaminophen-induced hepatitis and hepatocellular injury in the rat

Inge Bauer
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care MedicineGermany
Brigitte Vollmar
- Institute for Clinical & Experimental SurgeryGermany
Hartmut Jaeschke
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
Hauke Rensing
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care MedicineGermany
Thomas Kraemer
- Department of Toxicology, University of the Saarland, Homburg, Germany
Reinhard Larsen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care MedicineGermany
Michael Bauer
- Michael Bauer, Klinik für Anaesthesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Universität des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Str., D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany: Tel: 49 6841 162728. Fax: 49 6841 162401.
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care MedicineGermany

Received 8 September 1999; received in revised form 3 February 2000; accepted 8 February 2000.

Abstract

Background/Aim: Glutathione depletion contributes to acetaminophen hepatotoxicity and is known to induce the oxidative stress reactant heme oxygenase-1. The metabolites of the heme oxygenase pathway, biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron may modulate acetaminophen toxicity. The aim of this study was to assess cell-type specific expression of heme oxygenase-1 and its impact on liver injury and microcirculatory disturbances in a model of acetaminophen-induced hepatitis.

Methods: Gene expression of heme oxygenase-1 was studied by Northern- and Western analysis as well as immunohistochemistry. The time course of heme oxygenase-1 and -2, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was studied by Northern analysis. DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-κB was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Sinusoidal perfusion and leukocyte-endothelial interactions were assessed by intravital microscopy.

Results: Acetaminophen caused a moderate sinusoidal perfusion failure (−15%) and infiltration of neutrophils along with activation of nuclear factor-κB and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 mRNAs. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA and protein (∼30-fold) in hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells paralleled the inflammatory response. Blockade of heme oxygenase activity with tin-protoporphyrin-IX abrogated acetaminophen-induced hepatic neutrophil accumulation and nuclear factor-κB activation, but failed to affect sinusoidal perfusion and liver injury.

Conclusions: The inflammatory response associated with acetaminophen hepatotoxicity is modulated by the parallel induction of the heme oxygenase-1 gene. However, heme oxygenase-1 has no permissive effect on sinusoidal perfusion and does not affect liver injury in this model. These data argue against a central role of nuclear factor-κB activation and neutrophil infiltration as perpetuating factors of liver injury in acetaminophen toxicity.

Keywords: Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1, Intercellular adhesion molecule-1, Intravital microscopy, Liver, Microcirculation, Neutrophil, Nuclear factor κB